LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2119, 8 December 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

XHE MYSTERY OP LORD BRACKEKBTJRY: A NOVEL. BY AMELIA B. EDWARDS, Author of “Barbara’s History,” “Debenham’a Vow,” &c, ( Continued. Mr Braokenbury muttered something about • Letting it go, and welcome I’— thrust hla hands into his pockets, and glared at the fire. 1 Lancelot Braokenbury,’ said Mr Marrables, with much suavity, * you are the moat obstinate and the most unreasonable young man I ever had the pleasure of knowing. Nevertheless, I have a last word to say- about the legacies.’ Au impatient movement on the part of his client. ‘ It has probably not occurred to yon, that, by not proving your brother’s will, you are year by year keeping a number of persons out of their just dues,’ Mr Braokenbury made no reply, ‘ It may be argued that so long as they know nothing about it, they are not aggrieved ; but is it fair to keep them in ignorance? How can yon tell that some of the older and poorer legatees may not die before coming into possession of their money ?’ * I have thought of that,' said the young man In a low voice. * I have taken care that none of the really poor shall lose by the delay. Joe Howell, the two Dodds, old Lois Bailey, and lots of others, have had their lives and tens and twenties jnst the same.’ ‘ The denco they have! On what grounds —as a gift from yourself.’ * Well, yes—partly, I said I knew what Cnthbert wished,’ ‘ Humph ! I anppose you know you’ll be liable to pay it all over again, when yon prove the will ?‘ ‘I thought it likely. But what does It matter—a few hundreds more or leas ?’ Mr Marrable shook his head, and tried to look as If Rb disapproved. ‘ Very foolish,’ he said ; * very foolish and one-sided, and altogether out of rule. Besides, how can yon tell that some of the larger legatees may not want their money quite as much as the Dodds and the Baileys ? Miss Winifred Savage, for instance; she ought to be paid. ’ ‘lf I know anything of Miss Savage’s character and disposition, ’ said Mr Brackenbsry, warmly, ‘ she Is the last who would desire to profit by my poor brother’s will ?’ * I don’t donbt it —as far as she is herself concerned; but I was thinking of old Miss Langtrey. Are you aware that the Grange is mortgaged, and the mortgagee about to be foreclosed ? ’ ‘ Mortgaged ? By whom ? By Miss Langtrey ? ’ He spoke quickly. He was evidently startled. ‘By the late squire. He mortgaged it for five thousand, a month or so before his death. ’ * Do you know the mortgagee ? ’ ‘ John Fawcett.’ * Fawcett of Singleton ? His own solicitor P ’ ‘ Ay; the original mortgagee being Frank Fawcett, his nephew—now a junior partner. Frank Fawcett, however, transferred the mortgage to his uncle some years ago. But we may be pretty sure that it was the elder Fawcett's money from the first, and that it has been long since paid, with the Lord knows how many more thousands in the form of costs.’ * Heavens ! What an infamy! ’ Mr Marrables smiled blandly. * Clever practice, my young friend,’ said he. ‘ Miss Langtrey must not loose the Grange! ’ exclaimed Lord Braokenbury, emphatically. * How do yen propose to prevent it ? ’ ‘ By paying off the mortgage immediately. It is what Cnthbert would do, if he were here.’ * It is what ho would have a right to do—which you have not.’ * But I will do it for him—with his money.' ‘ Stop ! Neither you nor any one else Is supposed to know that the Grange is encumbered. It is a matter that has been kept strictly private. Besides, if Mias Langtrey does not take you into her confidence, how can yon perform the part of a ** Dens ex machina,” descending upon the stage with a money bag In one hand and a cancelled deed in the other ?’ *lf yon know of the mortgage why may not I know of it ?’ ‘ Because I learned it from an engrossing clerk, who would be rained if his name leaked out. You cannot act on my information. ’ Mr Brackenbnry half rose from his chair. «By heavens! Marrables,’ he said angrily, ‘ yon delight to raise obstacles. If Fawcett forecloses the place will be put up for sale, and we can buy it in. Or yon might _go to Fawcett and Clark, and say that I wish to arrange the matter privately. The thing can be managed ; and if well managed. Miss Langtrey need not even be told that I am in it.’ Mr Marrables listened with provoking calmness. ‘My dear young friend,’he said; ‘you theorise with the refreshing impulsiveness of youth. The place will not be put up for sale. The mortgagee will taka the estate in liquidation of the debt, and an excellent bargain he will get. I nhould not wonder if old Fawcett means to live at the The Grange himself. As for arranging the matter privately in Miss Lsngtrey’s favor, you might as well propose to arrange privately for the settlement of the National Debt. It is simply a case of Langtrey versus Shylock, Shylook is a cannibal, and though you should offer him a dozen beefsteaks in exchange, he prefers his pound of flesh,’ ‘ But there must be a way out of it?’ «Undoubtedly there is a way out of it. Prove your brother’s will, and pay Miss Winifred Savage’s legacy of twelve thousand pounds." Mr Braokenbury moved uneasily in his chair, and shaded with his hand. ‘I must have time,’ he said presently; ‘ time to consider.’ * Yon have taken four years to consider already,’ said Mr Marrables. Tea was brought; and after tea the spirit decanters and cigar boxes. Mr Cochrane laid down his hook, and the little lawyer, dropping his professional manner, chirnped and chattered away as before. But Lancelot Brackenbnry went out for a solitary walk on the terrace. When after about half an hour’s absence he came back, it was with a very grave and a somewhat pale face. ‘I have made up my mind, Marrables,’ he said abruptly. ‘ 1 will do as you advise.’ ‘ I am heartily glad to hear you say so.’ 1 I do it against my inclination—against my judgment. But I yield to circumstances. God forgive me if I do wrong ! ’ ‘Believe me, you do only what Is just. And now—for we must act promptly—yon had better meet me lu'Singleton to-morrow morning, and I’ll have the affidavits ready. What o’clock shall we say? Eleven ? ’ The young man nodded gloomily. * Very good—eleven. And now I mast be going home. No, no—don’t ask mo. I would stay IE I could —only too gladly. But I have an appointment at my office tomorrow morning at nine, and another at half-past; and it will run me pretty sharp to be ready for you by eleven. May I order my trap? 1 ‘By all means ; hut it’s sheer insanity to turn out for a fourteen miles’ drive at this hour. You can’t see a yard before you.’ ‘ Oh! that’s nothing,’ said Mr Marrables, putting out his hand to the bell. * The mare knows her way, r,ad sees in the dark like a cat.’ The solemn hntler appeared. ‘ Bid James put the mare in, Church, and bring the trap round.’ The order was so unusual, that Church looked at his master to see If anything was wrong. ‘ We’ve got your room ready, dr,’ ha said hesitatingly. « All the worse for me. Church, that I can’t occupy it to-night. Jnst tell Jarrvoa to be as quick as he can, will yon ?’

* Tea, air,' ‘And look here. Church. —my lord will kindly lend mo an extra rug till tomorrow.’ The faintest gleam of intelligence flashed over Church’s monumental countenance ; but Lancelot Braokenbury looked down and said nothing Mr Marrablea had carried hia point. Chapter XVI. ART, NATURE AND ETHNOLOGY. Horace Cochrane waa one of the dlscreetest of men. He said nothing till questioned, and even then he committed himself as little aa possible. Hia friend took it for granted that he had heard both sides of the question, and asked what he thought of it; to which Mr Cochrane replied that, although he bad done hia best not to listen, he could not help hearing something of the discussion, and that from what little be did hear, it seemed to him that Mr Marrables was right. Bo did not say.how muoh that little was, nor did Lancelot ask him. New he had In truth tried hard not to hear ; and although he was by no means in a reading mood, he did, somehow or another succeed in abstracting his mind from the conversation, till the name of Miss Winifred Savage arrested hia attention. That name, spoken _by Mr Marrables with peculiar emphasis, took hia ear by surprise, and for a moment he oaught himself listening to what followed. After this, do what he would, he could not again deafen himself to what was going on. He forced hia eyes to follow the printed words along the page, but they conveyed no meaning to his brain. He heard all about the mortgage, and all about the legacy that Lord Brackenbnry hudlefsto his intended bride. There could be no dohbt that these were exceedingly private matters, and that he had no business to know anything about them ; . but it was not hia fault that they were discussed in his presence, or that he had involuntarily heard what was said. The two young men rode to Singleton early next morning, where they put up for a couple of hours at ‘ The Three Feathers” —an old-fashioned inn and postinghouse overlooking the market-place. Mr Cochrane then strolled out to see the town, while Lancelot Braokenbury—who should now be called Lord Brackenbnry—transacted his business with Mr Marrablea. There is not much to interest a stranger in the clean, commonplace, sleepy streets of this North Country town. Mr Cochrane, however, roused up the soxtoneas, went over the Abbey Church, tried in vain to decipher the half-effacad legend on the market cross, inspected some fragments of Boman wall in a meadow outside the town, and sauntered round the grass-grown bull-ring whieh local arohasologists fondly believe to be the remains of a Boman amphitheatre. Having done all this —and it barely consumed an hour of the time he had to wait—he came back to the Throe Feathfrs, took refuge in a warm corner of the coffee room, and solaced himself with “ Burke’s Landed Gentry,” and yesterday’s “ Manchester Mercury.” They were to have luncheon presently, when Lancelot’s business was done; . and then they were to ride home by way of Langtrey Manor, so paying that promised visit to the ladies of the Grange. It has been seen that Mr Coohrane was somewhat keen upon this visit to the Grange. Besides that he was a bit of an antiquary, inquisitive abont old houses, old families, genealogies, and the like; he was also curious to see the young lady whose prospects had been so strangely blighted a few years ago. Vague rumours of her beauty, of her poverty, and of the generous motives of the lost lord’s wooing, had found their way erewhile from Lancashire to London; and when her lover’s disappearance was the common talk of the town. Miss Savage’s name came frequently to the snrface Horace Cochrane had at the time been aa mnch interested in the affair as every one else ; and like every one else had by and by grown tired. Chancing however to become acquainted with Lancelot Brackenbnry a year or two after, every half forgotten circnm- , stance of the notorious * Brackenbnry Case ’ came back npon him with twofold vividness. ( T» ie tentinutS )